Pipe cleaner



Oct. 17, 1944. w GROCQFF 2,360,560

- PIPE CLEANER Filed Nov. 16, 1943 INVENTOR, WILLIAM GROCOFF.

- ATTORNEK Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,360,560 riPE CLEANER William Grocoff, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 16, 1943, Serial No. 510,441

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in pipe cleaners, and has particular reference to a device for cleaning the bowl of a pipel My in-' vention, as disclosed in the present application, constitutes an improvement over the pipe bowl cleaner improvement described in my United States Patent No. 1,249,618.

In the latter patent I described a pipe cleaner which had a shank and blades mounted on opposite sides of the latter with freedom of oscillating movement for conforming to the shape of the bowl of the pipe, the'mounting means compris-' ing a pair of V-shaped springs supporting the blades at their upper and lower ends and tending to expand the blades toward the wall of the bowl.

In my present invention it is proposed to provide certain structural improvements over the patented pipe cleaner, which will make the present device easier to manufacture, more rugged in construction, and somewhat less bulky, particularly in width, so as to allow the device to be accommodated in a flat case and carried in the vest pocket.

Further objects and advantages of m invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the device will be fully set forth in the claims hereto attached.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows my pipe cleaner in side elevation, as applied to the bowl of a pipe;

Figure 2 shows the pipe cleaner by itself, in side elevation, and with the blades in natural extended position;

Figure 3 shows a horizontal section taken along line 33 of Figure 2, and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 4, an edge elevation of the pipe cleaner.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my pipe cleaner I comprises in its principal features a stem or shank 2, a pair of blades 3, a pair of springs 4 supporting the blades, and guide bars 5 for confining the blades to the plane of the shank. V

The shank 2 is preferably made of a flat piece of steel a quarter of an inch wide and terminates,

at is upper end, in a widened portion adapted to serve as a handle 6 for manipulating the device.

The handle 6 may be formed with a hole I to receive a chain or the like for suspending the pipe cleaner therefrom, if desired. The lower end of the shank is preferably squared, as shown in the drawing.

Two studs 8 and 9 project from opposite faces of the shank, the former near the lower end, and the latter spaced from the lower end a suitable distance, which may correspond approximately to the depth of the bowl of the pipe.

Two wire springs 4 have their central portions coiled about the two studs on opposite sides of the shank and have legs spreading in the form of a V.

The legs of the spring anchored to. the stud 8 project upward and the legs of the spring anchored to the stud 9 project downward, the legs being all of substantially the same length, which corresponds substantially to the distance between the studs. The latter are preferably formed with heads 10 for holding the springs in place.

The free ends of the spring legs are turned inwardly, that is, toward the plane of the shank so as to form four parallel journals or bearings H for the two blades 3, which are provided with registering holes adapted to receive the bearings.

The two blades are complementary in shape, each comprising an elongated bar I2 of a length somewhat in excess of the distance between the studs 8 and 9, and adapted to be supported in parallel relation to the shank 2 by means of the spring journals ll.

Each blade has outer edges fashioned to form cutting edges and curving inwardly toward the lower end, as at l3, to substantially follow the lower contour of the pipe bowl.

The lower ends of the blades are turned inward to form shoulders M which clear the lower end of the shank 2 when the blades are forced toward the shank.

Since the spring legs are of the same length and have substantially the same tension, the blades 3 will normally arrange themselves in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, being spaced from the shank uniformly thoughout the lengths of the blades. When in this position, the outer cutting edges of the blades are spaced from one another somewhat in excess of the inside diameter of the bowl of the pipe to be cleaned.

It is apparent, however, that both blades may be forced uniformly toward the shank, and that each blade may move independently of the other. In addition each blade is free to oscillate on its two journals, so that when the device as a whole is lowered into the bowl of a pipe the two blades are not only pressed toward one another, but each of the blades may readily assume any degree of tilt or angularity to fit itself into the contour of the pipe bowl.

A pair of cross-bars 5 may be secured upon opposite faces of the shank, as at IE, to form two outer grooves [6 adapted to receive portions of the blades therein and to confine the blades in the plane of the shank.

Thus, when the cleaner is inserted into the bowl of a pipe, the springs allow the blades to assume positions conforming substantially to the contour of the bowl and at the same time exert substantially uniform outward pressure on the blades for urging the latter into gripping engagement with the bowl wall.

If now the device is turned by means of handle or finger grip 6, the cross-bars 5 cause the blades to revolve with the shank and to cut from the inner wall of the bowl any carbon or other solid matter that may have settled thereon.

The advantages of my present invention over that disclosed in the patent will be readily understood.

The flat shank, made in one piece with the handle, may be formed in a single stamping operation, and tends to reduce the thickness of the device as a whole, which is important where the device is to be carried in a vest pocket or supported on a chain.

The studs 8 and 9 form a better anchoring means for the springs and allow pre-formed springs to be used. Both legs of each spring being on the same side of the shank, they are more nearly in the same plane than in the patented device and operate substantially in direct-line opposition to one another, with little twisting effect.

, legs being of the same length and having their ends bent inwardly toward the plane of the shank so as to present four parallel journals, and two blades supported on the four journals on opposite sides of the shank with freedom of oscillating movement in the plane of the shank.

2. In a pipe cleaner of the character described, a flat shank having a widened upper end to form a, handle for manipulating the same, and havingtwo studs projecting from opposite faces thereof, one near the lower end and one spaced from the said end, a spring having a central portion coiled about the first stud and having legs projecting upwardly in V-shaped relation, a second spring having a central portion coiled about the second stud and having legs projecting downwardly in V-shaped relation, all of the legs being of the same length and having their ends bent inwardly toward the plane of the shank so as to present fou-r parallel journals, and two blades supported on the four journals on opposite sides ofthe shank with freedom of oscillating movement in the plane of the shank, the latter having guide members secured upon opposite faces thereof to project over the blades for confining the blades to the plane of the shank.

WILLIAM GROCOFF. 

